Impact of weather anomalies in recent decades on the water regime of typical chernozems of the reserved steppe area in Kursk oblast

The analysis of long-term weather records and data on the water budget in a 3-m-deep layer of typical chernozems in the reserved steppe area has shown considerable changes in the soil hydrological regime under the impact of climatic fluctuations. In the past 34 years, the warm season has become more humid and the cold season has become warmer in comparison with the climatic norm. These changes have been accompanied by the settling of trees and shrubs on the reserved steppe territory; more frequent cases of water percolation throughout the entire profile of chernozems owing to the increased accumulation of water reserves in the fall, winter, and spring seasons; less active evapotranspiration of soil water during the growing season; and the smaller deficit of soil water in the fall. In general, the chernozems have become better moistened, which has led to certain changes in their genetic features.